Even though Jamestown is just across the bridge from Newport, it is a much quieter and more modest place. The island is made up of bucolic farm land and rocky shorelines. The history of the island greets you as soon as you get off the highway with a sign stating that the town was incorporated in 1678. Most of the sights on the island continue this historic story.

The first site that you come upon off the highway is the Jamestown Windmill. While the inside of the windmill is only open to the public during the weekends in the summer, the grounds of this historic site are open all year round. Built in 1787, the Windmill was originally used to mill corn. Since 1912 it has been maintained by the Jamestown Historical Society. The windmill sits next to current farmland with a view of the Newport bridge in the distance.

Continuing past the Windmill on North Rd., you come to the small downtown area. The main drag is on Narragansett Rd., which ends at the marina. The center boasts a handful of cafes and restaurants, some art galleries, and local clothing & gift shops. My two favorite cafes are Slice of Heaven and Village Hearth Bakery & Cafe because they both have cute outdoor seating that is shaded. The marina houses many luxury sailboats that are nice to look at & a ferry terminal that connects Jamestown to Newport.

To the south of Jamestown center is the road to Fort Wetherill State Park. People come here to enjoy views of Newport & sailboats, admire or add to the graffiti of the old fort ruins, scuba dive, or enjoy the small hiking trails throughout the park. On my recent trip, I felt like the graffiti section was a lot smaller than I remember it being in the past, but there are still some impressive pieces of art. The ruins are not well maintained, so please explore carefully. There are also some small beaches, and on my last trip, I decided to don my water shoes (it is rocky) and take a quick dip in the water. This place is by no means a real beach, but the coastline provides a much safer entry point than some of the neighboring parks. Fun fact, Wes Anderson’s 2012 film Moonrise Kingdom used this for Sam and Suzy’s beach scenes.

To the southwest of Fort Wetherill, a peninsula juts out from the main island via Beavertail Rd. You’ll pass resident only beach, Mackerel Cove, before a fork in the road that can lead you to either Fort Getty or Beavertail State Park.

Fort Gerry is made up of a series of RV and tent camping sites. There is a small walking trail, the Kit Wright Nature trail, that takes out to a nice view of the salt marsh, but if you’re not camping here, there’s not much to see.

Beavertail State Park, on the other hand, is one of my favorite places in Rhode Island. The rocky coastline includes a series of coves that create private oases to enjoy the sound of the crashing waves against the rocky shores. At the end of the peninsula stands the Beavertail Lighthouse, which also houses a museum & aquarium.

People come to Beavertail to fish along the rocks, watch the birds and boats in the ocean, fly a kite or picnic on the grassy knolls, and explore the small pieces of Fort Burnside that dot the grounds. I tend to bring a chair, book, and a snack to enjoy an peaceful hour with the fresh sea air.